Halloween candy costs climb fast when you’re preparing for trick-or-treaters. I checked Target’s prices against grocery-store options, and these seven buys offer better value for filling the treat bowl.
1. Mars Assorted Starburst, Skittles, M&M’s, Snickers Party Bag Candies – 19.44oz – $10.29
One bag covers both chocolate and fruit-candy preferences, making the $10.29 Target price a useful grocery-store benchmark. I’d choose it for a mixed-age trick-or-treat crowd when buying several separate favorites feels excessive.
Taste: The assortment moves from fruity, chewy pieces to crisp candy shells and chocolate bars. It offers plenty of familiar contrast, though anyone wanting an all-chocolate bowl should look elsewhere.
Make It Better: Separate the fruit candy from the chocolate before filling the bowl so guests can spot their favorites quickly.
Parting Thoughts: For broad crowd appeal in a single purchase, this is a practical place to start.
2. Reese’s Milk Chocolate Snack Size Peanut Butter Cups Candy – 30.2oz – $15.29
Peanut butter cup loyalists get a substantial Halloween handout option here, with Target listing the bag at $15.29. The individually wrapped pieces are easy to pass out, although the price is less compelling for households expecting only a few visitors.
Taste: Creamy peanut butter brings a salty counterpoint to the sweet milk chocolate. The soft, dense center and smooth outer chocolate make each piece feel richer than a basic hard candy.
Make It Better: Try chilling a few for a firmer bite, but keep the main trick-or-treat supply at room temperature.
Parting Thoughts: Chocolate-and-peanut-butter households will likely consider the premium worthwhile.
3. SOUR PATCH KIDS Watermelon Soft & Chewy Gummy Candy Bulk Candy – 5lb – $16.99
Five pounds of watermelon gummies for $16.99 is the Target figure I’d jot down before checking a grocery store’s bulk-candy section. This amount suits a busy trick-or-treat route or a large party much better than a lightly visited doorstep.
Taste: The flavor starts tart and finishes sweet, with a clear watermelon-candy profile. Each piece stays soft and chewy beneath its sour coating.
Make It Better: Portion the candy into small treat bags before Halloween night; handling one large supply at the door can get awkward.
Parting Thoughts: A high-volume gummy buyer gets the clearest value from this oversized bag.
4. Frooties Halloween Mixed Candy Bag – $9.99
When the goal is handing out lots of individual pieces, the $9.99 Target listing gives budget-minded hosts a useful comparison point. This chewy assortment favors quantity and simplicity over the instant recognition of a major chocolate bar.
Taste: The available details do not identify specific flavors, so I wouldn’t choose it for one particular fruit profile. Its defining texture is chewy rather than crunchy or creamy.
Make It Better: Mix a few pieces into treat bags alongside a recognizable favorite to make a large supply feel more varied.
Parting Thoughts: Big guest lists benefit most from this quantity-first pick.
5. Dum Dums Original Mix Lollipops Candy – 13oz – $3.99
A lollipop bowl is an inexpensive way to add a non-chocolate choice, and Target’s listed price is $3.99. The individually wrapped format works well for classrooms, office bowls, or a second option beside richer candy.
Taste: The mix delivers classic fruit-candy flavors in a straightforward sweet profile. These are firm hard candies meant to dissolve slowly rather than provide a chewy center.
Make It Better: Stand them upright in a cup or jar so guests can choose without digging through the entire bowl.
Parting Thoughts: At this price, they make an easy supporting act rather than the whole Halloween spread.
6. Arctic Farms Freeze Dried Candy Corn Halloween Edition (6.5oz) – $12.99
Freeze-dried candy corn is the wildcard in this comparison, coming in at $12.99 at Target. I’d treat it as a party-table curiosity or a small-group novelty, not the economical answer for a long line of trick-or-treaters.
Taste: The candy-corn sweetness remains the central flavor, while freeze-drying changes the familiar experience. Its texture is lighter and crisper than conventional candy corn rather than soft and dense.
Make It Better: Serve it in a small bowl alongside traditional candy corn so guests can compare the two versions.
Parting Thoughts: Curious candy-corn devotees may enjoy the splurge, while strict value hunters can skip it.
7. M&M’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Candy – Sharing Size – 9oz – $5.49
For a smaller gathering, this $5.49 sharing-size bag avoids committing to a full bulk assortment. It also gives you a clean Target price to compare with the same mid-size chocolate category at your grocery store.
Taste: Creamy peanut butter sits inside sweet milk chocolate, adding a salty, nutty balance. The candy shell provides a light initial snap before the smooth center takes over.
Make It Better: Freeze a portion when you want a firmer bite, or pour the pieces into a party snack mix just before serving.
Parting Thoughts: Smaller parties get the best balance of familiar flavor and manageable quantity here.
